Dartington Crystal’s management team is acquiring the majority control of the business. Since 2006 its chairman and major shareholder John Hammond MBE had led the company to independent ownership and strengthened its performance to its current healthy trading levels. The three directors Neil Hughes (md) Richard Halliday (commercial) and Alan Ramsay (finance) have been supported by Barclays Bank to take a major share of the business and continue its growth.
Neil comments: “We are grateful to John Hammond for his commitment and investment in Dartington Crystal over the last 12 years. We are delighted to be able to further his ambitions for the company and for his belief in us as a management team.”
John adds: “Despite market challenges the company and its employees are well positioned to meet them and prosper. I am very proud in what we have achieved over the years and look forward to seeing progress continued.”
Dartington Crystal is the last factory scale producer of crystal in the UK and employs 130 staff at its hq in Devon. It also owns the Scottish Caithness Glass brand, Royal Brierley cut crystal and John Beswick ceramics. In 2017 the business celebrated 50 years of trading with record sales of circa £14m.
*Dartington has appointed Ali Hunter as its new area sales manager for Central and East. Ali has worked with a premium chocolate company for nearly ten years and has a great reputation, covering all parts of the country in job roles such as business development manager and sales executive.
Top: Richard and Neil make a toast to their management acquisition.
